Many health experts believe that your BMI (Body Mass Index) is a more efficient way to determine your health than merely using a scale. It takes into consideration your height and weight, which is then put against a scale which tells you whether or not you are carrying too much fat and, therefore at a higher risk of developing potentially deadly diseases based on your particular number.
How to Calculate It Manually
While there are many BMI calculators online, you can also calculate the number on your own. If you measure your height in inches and weight in pounds, your formula is:
[Weight (in pounds) ÷ Height (in inches) 2] x 703
For example, if your weight is 160 pounds and your height is 66 inches, then your calculation would look like this:
[160 ÷ 662] x 703 = 25.82
However, if you measure your height in meters and your weight in kilograms, the formula is slightly different. You will use this formula instead:
Weight in kilograms ÷ Height in meters 2
So, if you weigh 67 kilograms and are 1.66 meters tall (which is 166 centimeters), your calculation would look like this: 67 ÷ 1.66 2 = 24.31
What the Numbers Mean
Once you’ve calculated your BMI, you need to be able to interpret the numbers. So, here is a chart that explains what they mean:
• If your number is below 18.5, you are considered underweight
• If your number is between 18.5 and 24.9, you are considered to be normal weight
• If your number is between 25.0 and 29.9, you are overweight
• If your number is 30.0 or above, you are defined as being obese
If you fall into the overweight or obese category, you have a higher risk of certain diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes. You also have a greater likelihood of some weight related medical conditions like sleep apnea, hypertension and stroke.
Calculate your BMI and see where you stand.
Try to get your number in the normal range so that you can enjoy optimal health and live a long and active life.